The examination of this witness was left to Ranger, who got him to narrate the circumstances of his finding the body of the “deceased” on the morning of the 5th. The unfortunate youth seemed to forget that the trial was a mock one, and coloured up and stammered and corrected himself, as if the life of a fellow-being actually depended on his evidence.
Felgate, after a hurried communication from his junior, only asked a very few questions in cross-examination.
“Did you observe if the body was lying with its head to the door or its feet?”
“I really couldn’t say. It was so dark, and I was so horrified.”
“Was the key of the cellar always on the outside of the door?”
“Yes, generally; it must have been, because I locked it behind me when I ran out.”
“Who would be the last person at night to go to the cellar? Would the foreman go round and lock up?”
“I don’t know; I suppose so.”
“You wouldn’t swear that the foreman did not usually keep the key at night in his own room?”
“No—that is, yes. Do you mean I wouldn’t swear he did, or didn’t?”